Page:Confiscation in Irish history.djvu/13

 THE TUDOR CONFISCATIONS

History of Irish Confiscations may almost be said to be the history of Ireland from the first coming of the Anglo-Norman invaders until five centuries later, when confiscation ceased, apparently for much the same reason as a fire burns itself out, because there was nothing more left to confiscate.

The first confiscation, following on the invasion, differed radically from those that came later, because it was carried out by right of sword, without any attempt at justification by legal quibbles. To some extent the Normans in Ireland were only following the example set by their grandfathers in England.

But there was one important point of procedure which has profoundly differentiated the history of the two countries.

William the Conqueror claimed to be lawful King of England, whose right was disputed by the Pretender Harold and other rebels. If the English lost their lands it was as rebels. Theoretically he